SOUTAR HITS OUT AT EURO TOUR SYSTEM

ALAN SOUTAR has reignited his criticism of the European Tour system.

World No.53 Soutar believes the current format is leaving too many players at a disadvantage despite the huge prize money on offer. 

The top 16 players in the Order of Merit receive byes straight to the second round at the events on the circuit. 

Soutar admits the competitions remain some of the biggest on the calendar but insists the structure behind them is flawed. 

He told Tungsten Tales: “They’re massive events, and the prize money is huge. 

“For players ranked around 40 to 60, it’s tough. You see players come in without qualifying and go straight into later rounds. It’s hard to take. 

“When I first got my Tour Card, there were more qualifying spots. It gave more players opportunities and made it exciting.” 

The Arbroath thrower has enjoyed a strong start to the year reaching the quarter-finals of Players Championship Five and making the last 16 in two further events. 

Soutar continues to balance life on the oche with his role as a firefighter but is hopeful of focusing fully on darts in the near future. 

He added: “It’s been a great start. If you’d asked me at the beginning of the season whether I’d be in this position for the Worlds and Tour Card status, I’d have taken it.  

“My floor form has been really good, so long may it continue. 

“The baseline is being in the top 64 every year, and it’s getting harder. 

“There’s an influx of young players coming through, and they can skip past you quite quickly. You’re always looking over your shoulder. 

“Everyone checks the rankings page. I’ve got a thing with Max Hopp, we always say ‘still green’ when we see each other. It’s a nice little joke. 

“I’ve got 21 months left, then I can retire. The plan is to keep my Tour Card until 2028, and then I can dedicate more time to darts. 

“I’ve hit 100-plus averages this season, but I also drop into the mid-80s, and that’s not good enough. 

“You need to be around 95 consistently.” 

The 48-year-old has turned to fitness to sharpen his game and is set to run the London Marathon in April while raising funds for Guide Dogs UK. 

Soutar and his partner Amanda have spent years raising guide dog puppies. 

He continued: “A lot of players are trying to look after themselves better. 

“I’ve been running more, and that freshness and mindset of wanting to improve really helps, because the tour is gruelling, it really is. 

“I’m absolutely loving it. I used to be a runner in the Armed Forces, but that was 20 to 25 years ago, so it’s a bit more challenging now at 48. 

“Instead of lying about in the mornings, I’ll go out for a run, whether that’s Leicester, Hildesheim, Wigan or Milton Keynes. 

“Then I’m back, showered, had breakfast, and ready for the day. It sets you up much better. 

“We’re on our eighth dog now. We raise them from eight weeks until about 14 months before they go into full training. It’s a big part of our lives. 

“We’ve both lost weight, we feel better, and if the money we raise helps even one person, that’s enough for me. 

“The darts community has been incredible. The support has been brilliant, and we’ve still got a few weeks to go.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.